What are You Feeding Your Heart this Summer?

Fresh, fun treats that fuel a healthy heart

What we put into our bodies, what we think in our heads and what we carry in our hearts can make us healthy or sick.

The good news? Western medicine is (finally!) beginning to acknowledge what Chinese Medicine has known for thousands of years: our emotions affect our physical energy or Qi (pronounced chi).

If you want more positive life energy this summer, go green by following these three simple steps.

Release: Let go. Whether you rant wildly or seethe silently, undigested emotions are like poison to your mind, body and spirit. Emotional toxicity festers in the liver and gallbladder, congesting your blood and Qi, and causing tension in the head (and heart!). Something as simple as saying, “I feel angry about this” can release the knots in your stomach and skull. When we reveal how we feel, we allow ourselves to heal.

Renew: Eat green. One of the easiest, simplest and most powerful ways to boost your energy and your mood is to eat vegetables. Yes, your mama was right!

Rejuvenate: Count your blessings. Whether you’re an early bird or a nighthawk, writing down 10 things you’re grateful for (e.g., my health, this house, my dog) at the beginning or end of the day is a powerful practice that opens your heart and calms your mind. Cultivating gratitude is like planting seeds that blossom into nourishing and beautiful blessings. The “dog days of summer” are the perfect time to bask in the sun, howl at the moon and be grateful for our lives and the people we love. [end]